KanjiSchool
后
后 (readings: こう, きさき; Japanese kanji) means “empress”. It is a Grade 6 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 6 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 皇后 (empress).
What does 后 mean?
| Kanji | 后 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | empress |
| Readings | こう, きさき |
| Grade | Grade 6 (Hardest) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 后
后 is read こう or きさき depending on the word.
Example words with 后
| Example | 皇后 (empress) |
|---|
Practice writing 后 — free
See 后's stroke order, take a quiz, and add it to your spaced-repetition review. KanjiSchool teaches all 1,026 Kyōiku kanji through real stories and news.
Start free — no credit card →
Updated: 2026-07-14